Radio station for Torbay
DEVONAIR, Torbay and Exeter’s independent radio station, will be the first of its kind in the world to have twin stations, Mr Norman Devonport, chairman of Haldon Radio, revealed today.
Yesterday, the Independent Broadcasting Authority announced that Haldon Radio had won the three-horse race for the contract. Haldon will broadcast under the name DevonAir.
Bay City Radio fell early on in the interviews and the competition for the franchise was between Haldon and Riviera.
Mr Devonport said Torbay would be coming out best because his group had won the contract.
“We are going in for twin stations. The studio in Torbay will certainly have equal broadcasting facilities,” he said.
Mr Devonport said the station would require a lot of management and he could give no indication as to when they would be on the air.
“We are very excited about this. It is the beginning of new era. We do not want Torbay to think they are the second to Exeter in any way.”
Members of the Haldon Radio group include Vice-Admiral Sir Ronald Brockman, a member of Devon County Council who is president of the group; Mr Norman Devonport, chairman; Mr Hamish Turner, secretary, who is Torbay and South Devon’s deputy Coroner; Mr David Cousins, songwriter and recording artist; Mr Keith Fordyce, television personality; and Mrs Rosemary Mercer, wife of the Bishop of Exeter.
Mr Turner said Haldon Radio already had a studio at St David’s Hill, Exeter, and were involved in negotiations for another studio in Torbay.
The IBA had stressed at public meetings that operations could not begin for about 18 months because there were engineering problems still to be resolved.
Mr Turner said the IBA planned to use a site in Preston Down Road, Paignton, for one transmitting station, and they had possible locations in Exeter for two more stations.
Both Torbay and Exeter will be covered by VHF and medium wave transmitters and DevonAir hope to re-transmit to people as far afield as Exmouth and Tiverton.
